For years, the Allegheny County Coroner's Office has conducted open inquests on certain controversial, high-profile deaths.

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Now, Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht says the actions of District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office are blocking him from holding inquests in four cases -- three of them involving law enforcement officials.

Wecht accuses Zappala of trying to do away with the county's only autonomous, independent reviews of police shootings.

"This is impudence, arrogance, gall of an unmitigated nature, hubris and unsurpassed chutzpah that absolutely defies explanation," Wecht said. "Who does the district attorney think he is?"

Inquests -- much like preliminary hearings in non-fatal court cases -- are used by Wecht's office to determine how someone died and whether criminal charges are warranted.

Because prosecutors have been uncooperative and filed motions to quash subpoenas issued by the coroner's office, according to Wecht, an inquest about a drug suspect's death at a bounty hunter's hands has yet to be held.

Michael P. Robinson, 38, was shot to death Dec. 23 at a house on Howard Street in the Fineview section of Pittsburgh's North Side. He was hit once in the pelvic area by a rubber bullet from a shotgun, according to Deputy Coroner Tim Uhrich.

Neither the shooter nor another bail bondsman who was at the house have been identified, and neither one has been charged.

The coroner's office subpoenaed Pittsburgh police to turn over reports, interviews and photographs pertaining to Robinson's death, but Zappala asked the subpoena to be quashed.

Zappala argued that Wecht is overstepping his duties because an autopsy has already determined that Robinson died from a gunshot wound, but Wecht said his office has not been able to rule whether Robinson was a homicide victim or not.

The district attorney's office has asked the court to require the coroner's office to send "all physical evidence, biological, whatever specimens there may be" from Robinson's autopsy to a state police lab, Wecht said.

"I must tell you how amazed, how truly incredulous I was, how grievously insulted I felt," Wecht said.

In addition to the Robinson case, Wecht said Zappala's efforts have kept him from holding open inquests into the April death of Andrea Umphrey, the August death of Anna Mae Edwards and the November death of Eugene Aiello.

Zappala spokesman Mike Manko declined comment Wednesday.

Judge Jeffrey Manning heard Zappala's motions opposing the coroner's subpoenas on Thursday afternoon but did not make a ruling. Another hearing is set for Jan. 14.